Author(s): Dr. Varsha Zanvar and Madhuri Revanwar

Abstract:
Present study was conducted to assess the health status of selected elderly people. Total 600 elderly were selected from urban (200), rural (200) and tribal (200) area of Nanded District of Marathwada region. Information of socio economic status, commonly observed health problems and health diseases among elderly population was collected with the help of interview schedule and using check list. Anthropometric measurements were measured and BMI was calculated. Result of the study revealed that, 75 percent elderly were belonging to age group of 60 to 70 years and 25 percent were above 70 years. Among selected elderly, 53.5 percent were female and 46.5 percent were male. Majority of the subjects were vegetarian (62.5%) while 37.5 percent were non vegetarian. Anthropometric measurements like mean height, weight and BMI of selected elderly subjects ranged from 150.84±7.5 to 163.49±7.65 cm., 45.47±9.58 to 63.34±8.31 kg. and 19.44±2.61 to 23.58±3.03 respectively. While, health problems like leg pain, eye problem, headache and anorexia (ranged from 5.5 to 86.80 %) and health diseases like diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, hyper tension, cancer and liver problems were more prevalent among selected elderly people (ranged from 0.70 to 25.75 %). Prevalence of various problems were higher among tribal elderly. It was also noted more among female elderly and elderly above age 70 years.